Means for securing a removable cap to a gear case



Oct. 5 1926. 1,601,912

c. A. GoDsHALK ET AL MEANS FOR SECURING A REMOVABL'E CAP TO A'GEAR CASE Filed Deo. 15,' 1922 nnunrnllmlimfr!vi f2' 31a/vento@ Patented Get. 5, 1926.-

'narran STATES PATENT orifice.

CLARENCE A. GODSIIALK AND FREDERICK I-IENKE7 JR., 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO FOX AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS CORPORATION, OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F DELAW'ARE.

MEANS FOR SECURING A REMOVABLE CAP T0 A GEAR CASE.

Application filed December 15, 1922. Serial No. 607,159.

In application Number 601,367, filed November 16, 1922, by Clarence A. Godshalk, which application has since matured into Patent 1,578,424, dated March 30, 1,926, there aredescribed and illustrated means for and a method of securing against rotation the parts of gear casings, illustrating such invention as applied to the gear case of a VFord-type steering mechanism for' automobiles. rIhe present invention relates to the same subject matter and has for its object to improve the locking or securing means, as will be hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of the case and cap enclosing the steering gear of an automobile of the Ford type,

the cap being constructed to serve as a part of a loclr for the steering wheel, to which our invention is applied.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the locking pins that we employ in carrying out our invention.

lFig. l is a perspective view of another form of such locking pin.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates the case located at the top ofthe steering post 3, that encloses and protects the steering gear of a Ford type steering mechanism for an automobile, and lathe cap that closes the upper open end of the case, these two parts being united by screw threads. The cap is formed withan attachment 5, that constitutes part of a steering-wheel locking mechanism, such part inthe present Villustration being a hub projecting from the y upper or outer face of the gear case cap, and adapted to surround the rotatable shaft to which the steering wheel is attached in the usual manner, there being formed in this hub a series of recesses 7 adapted to receive a locking bolt carried by the steering wheel. The parts of the locking mechanism just referred to are not shown, except the part 5, as the lock forms no part of the present invention and may be varied in construction and arrangement to suit the manufacturer or user. In using the usual Ford type steering mechanism it becomes necessary from time to time to remove the cap of the gear case in order to inspect and lubricate the gearing housed thereby. This is permitted by uniting the case and cap by screw threads. TNhen a locking mechanism for the steering wheel, one part of which is carried by the cap of the gear case, is used, it belcomes necessary to secure the Cap to the case in such manner that it cannot be turned when the lock is in use, else the latter would be ineffective for its desired purpose. In the aforesaid application and patent there is illustrated one means for locking the cap to the gear case proper. The means there illustrated necessitated for their application the use of a hammer and a screw driver, and required that the person lirst applying the locking means should be possessed of considerable strength in the hands and arms. The present invention has for its purpose to provide means for locking the cap to the gear case, which maybe applied by the use of a hammer alone, and which may be removed when it becomes desirable to take oft' the cap 4l to expose the gearing' within the case 2. The locking means for uniting the gear case and its cap against relative rota,- tive movement consists ofy pins 8, one or more of which may be used, preferably-a plurality of them. The pins are adapted to be driven into apertures 9 formed therefor in they cap 4l. These apertures extend through the top wall of the cap, near the peripheral edge thereof, and communicate with channels 6 cut through the screw threads in the skirt or depending flange of the gear cap, the channels being direct continuations of the apertures 9, and the two being produced at one cutting operation. The pins are angular in cross sections, at least as to three of their sides, and of uniform dimension, transversely, throughout their length. In Fig. 4 we show a pin that is square in cross section; while in Fig. 3 is shown a form of pin that we prefer to use, which is oblong in cross section and with that face which is outermost when the pin is seated in the recess 9, rounded, as indicated at 10. It will be seen that the aperture 9 through the top wall of the cap is of angular shape to fit the pin 8 and that it will operate to prevent rotation or turning of the pin and also to give proper direction thereto as it is being driven into place.

As represented in the dra-wings we prefer that the locking pin 8 should be of uniform size from end to end so that when driven into one oit the apertures 9 it will be supported and guided so that its Jfront cutting end shall overlie the edge of the case 2 and out a kerf in the face thereof yas the pin is driven downward and into the channel 6. The outer bearing wall et this channel holds the pin to its work and guides it, but does not tend to force it radially toward the axial center ot the gear case 2, as would occur were the groove taperingor formed with an inwardly inclined bearing wall. By the arrangement shown the pin seat, formed by the two opposite channels 6 and 13, is ot the same size 'from end to end, and closely lits the pin.

11 is an enlarged recess formed by cutting away the skirt of the cap l on its inner surtace, this recess communicating with the inner or lower end ot the channel 6 and eX- tending to the lower edge of the skirt. il] e prefer that the cutting ot the skirt of the cap to Jform the recesses shall not disturb the outer wall of the flange or skirt of the gear cap or mar its lower edge, in order that it may not be apparent to one uninformed that such recesses have been formed. The pur- 1 poses ot these enlarged recesses is to permit a proper tool to be inserted trom below, and between the engaging walls of the gear case and cap, to drive out the pins 8 when it is desired to remove them in Order to permit the cap to be unscrewed from the case. In practicing our invention the cap is screwed tightly to place on the gear case 2 as is usual, it being immaterial in what posi tion the cap may come to rest. The keys 8 are then inserted in the recesses 9 and driven in until their outer ends are tlush with the top ot the cap. The pins 8 are ot hard metal and the lower edges thereot are sharp and adapted to cut a kert or channel in the softer metal of' which the gear case may be formed, severing the screw-threads in so doing. When the pins have been driven to place they occupy seats which are formed in two registering channels, one, 6, being formed in the skirt ot' the cap 4l, f s has been described, and t-he other, 13, in the wall oi the gear case, it being cut by the key when driven to place, as has just been set forth.

When the keys are to be removed, in order to free the cap l, a tool is inserted from below through the recesses ll and caused to engage with the lower ends ot the keys which may then be driven out of their seats. In order that the keys may be protected and covered so that they cannot be removed when the steering wheel is locked, we provide the hub l2 et the steering wheel, which is concentric with and movable relative to the projection 5 et the cap ot the gear case, with an outwardly extending flange, which is represented as being broken to form the arms lll which are so disposed that they are as close to the top of the cap 4 as it is practical to locate them and yet permit tree movements of the hub and the tlange which it carries relative to the cap. The arms le ot the said Yflange arranged so that they directly overlie the recesses 9 in the ca a and the keys seated therein whenever the steering wheel occupies a position, reV ,rtive to the case, that will permit the wheel. to be locaed. This makes it impossible tor the ke,l s to be removed so long as the arms occupy the positions over their exposed ends. lllhen, however, the steering wheel is unlocked'it may be turned to carry the arms lf/L around and from over the pins, when tlie latter may be removed in the manner described.

The means which 4we have described and herein illustrated for securing a removable cap to a gear case are not only o't simple construction and small cost, but they may be easily and quickly applied, requiring only the use ot a hammer, and may be also easily removed whenever it is desired to tree the cap so that it may be taken Ott the gear case to espose the gearing that it covers.

TilVhat we claim is:

l. The combination oic a gear case, a cover therefor united to the gear case by screw threads, having a top and a concentric attachment that constitutes a part oi a locking mechanism, means 'for preventing rotation oi the cover relative to the gear case, comprising a locking pin passing through the top ot the cover and seated in grooves Jformed respectively in the screw-threaded uniting portions of the gear case and cover, a wheel having a hub surrounding the concentric attachment ot the cover adapted to be locked thereto, the wheel hub being 'formed with an outwardly extending Jflange that is located close to and directly over the top of the cover and is arranged to cover the v exposed end of the locking pin when the wheel is in position to be locked;v whereby access to the locking pin and its removal are prevented.

2. The combination with two concentrically arranged members ilitted to each other closely, et a smooth locking` pin for preventing relative rotation ot such members seated in opposite registering grooves formed respectively in the two members and together forming a complete seat 'for the pin. the outer member having a top through which the locking pin passes and a skirt extending over the inner member beyond the inner end ot the locking pin, the said skirt being cut away to form an enlarged recess opposite the inner end ot the said locking pin, said recess eitending` to the lower edge ot thew tor enclosing gearing, a cap covering the said case and having a skirt, the cap being united to the ease by screw threads, looking pins which pass through openings in the top of the cap and are seated in grooves formed respectively in the screw threaded Walls of the ease and cap and operatingto prevent rotation of the cap, and a rotatable hub overlying the gear eap arranged to be looked at will against rotation relative to such Cap and connected With a manually operated Wheel, the hub being provided With a flange 10 that is broken to form arms Which overlie the exposed ends of the connecting pins when the hub is looked but to expose the pins When the hub is free and moved to an intermediate position.

CLARENCE A. GCDSHALK. FREDERICK I-IENKE, JR. 

